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Thursday, January 10, 2013

A Few Favorites of the Year

If it's for no other benefit, a blog is a pretty terrific way of looking back over the past year to see where you've been. Quite literally. There was never a time before "blog" that I chronicled my life's journeys, thoughts, likes, and lifestyle quite like I do now. Not only does it keep a visual record of your pastimes, but it also makes you clean up your act a little too! (At least for what meets the camera's eye!)

I perused my files and chose things that leapt out to make me happy. Simple household items of daily utility and a certain vintage or quality that capture my ideal.

My ideal changes regularly. For years of our lives our ideals are made up of wants, needs, and desires. Of accumulations of things we think we want and need. Later it's about distillation, refinement, and passing on or simply getting rid of the unessential in whatever burdensome form it may take.

It's not necessarily an age thing. I've always known people to admire who live life at the essential level from an early age, undistracted by too much stuff. Without too much on their schedule, in their closets, or on their minds.

I will always require a big linen closet and lots of shelves and drawers, a china cabinet or two, and room for books. But I'll be looking for a lot more open space to move and breathe in in the year ahead. . . .

Here's to good food, a warm hearth, and all the comforts of home in the year ahead!

I don't know which are my favorites. I think the buttons, wicker basket with lovely white liner and most of all the truck. My husband paints a lot of trucks (oil paintings, not the vehicles) and would so love to own an old truck. Alas, no space and the salt air would eat it up.

Hi J, A ditto on blogging giving you a good look back at a year... seeing pics of your own life is like seeing it all fresh. What a lovely year you had, and I have loved coming along for the ride:-) I wish you a great year ahead, filled with the good things:-) Hugs,Bella

What a treat looking back at some of your beautiful images from the past year. I love the idea of pairing down and simplifying, it is a constant challenge though, because there are so many wonderful things in the world!

Oh...How dreamy! I love roses, lace, butterflies, porcelaine...all the pretty items you have featured in your post.Thank you for sharing a lovely stroll through your beautiful home.Blessings,Carolynn xx

What a gorgeous post that just inspires and encourages. I find I am enjoying less as more and feeling that's enough.I love all your wonderful pics that share your loved treasures. Your posts are always a perfect part of a day.

Beautiful photos and subjects, Jacqueline! I'm getting a new (to me) camera any day now and am looking forward to experimenting with it. I love the roses in the white pitcher. And you're right--I am glad to be blogging because it helps me to remember what all we've done around here!

Well said!! and beautiful photography, as always!! You even make toilet paper look lovely! I agree whole heartedly with your sentiments of wanting space this year. I was pretty minimalistic for most of my life--in large part due to little money to buy "things" with, but that was ok. Then I started looking at blogs. That'll fill ya' with a bit of lust for the lovelies. And then I did the "space at an antique mall" thing. I accumulated way too much stuff and am still digging out. And with the Oregon gray fog just on the tree tops closing me in, I badly need "breathing space"!!! Oh, and I was browsing the Pottery Barn catalog--saw some baskets (one of my loves) and there was a lovely set called the "Jacqueline baskets"!!